Wick cleaner



June 21, 1932. GENNRICH 1,864,489

WICK CLEANER Filed NOV. 14, 1950 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PAUL GENNRICH, OF MAPLE SHADE, NEW JERSEY WICK CLEANER Application filed November 14, 1930. Serial No. 495,709..

This invention relates to cutting and scraping devices, and more particularly to cleaners and trimmers for the wicks of oil stoves or lamps.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel cleaner or trimmer for the wicks of oil burning stoves or lamps by means of which such wicks may be quickly and easily cleaned regardless of their size.

Another object is to provide a wick cleaner which is simple in structure and inexpensive to manufacture, and is readily adjustable to fit wicks of various diameters. V v

A further object is to provide an instrument of this type embodying a cutter or scraper which is capable of both rotary and radial movements thereby adapting it for use with wicks of any size.

These and other objects will appear more fully from a consideration of the detailed description of the invention which follows. Although two embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is to be expressly understood that this drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not to be construed as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention shown in conjunction with the wick of an oil stove;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the scraper or cutter member shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and '3, there is shown therein a simple and efficient cleaner or trimmer for the wicks of oil stoves or lamps which embodies a novel form of construction enabling it to be used with wicks of various sizes. As shown, a circular frame or spider, indicated generally at 5, constitutes the base or supporting member of the cleaner and comprises a central disc 6 to which are attached, and preferably stamped integrally therewith, a plurality of segmental frame members 7, the outerv arcuate edges of same forming a circle whosediameter is in excess of the largest wick with which the cleaner is expected .to be used. Between the various segmental members 7- thereare 65 formed a plurality of radial slots or grooves 8. j I i i Suitably mounted on spider 5 and adapted for radial movement relative thereto in grooves 8 are a plurality of cutters or scrapers, indicated generally at 9. Each of these cutters has a substantially rectangular horizontal arm or base plate 10 and a vertical arm or cutter plate 11. Horizontal base plate 10 is adapted to slide on top of one of segmental frame members 7, while vertical cutter plate 11 extends downwardly within and below radial groove 8 A second horizontal arm or holding down clip 12 may extend parallel to base plate 10 from the face of cutter plate 11 and engage the underside of segmental frame member 7 so as to prevent any vertical movement of the cutter rela tive to the frame.- Y

Vertical cutter plate 11 is substantially M-shaped in elevation having a pair of rela: tively narrow legs 13 and a wider middle portion 14 which doesnot extend as far downwardly as do legs 13.; The distance between legs 18 is slightly greater than the difference between the inner and outer diameters of the ordinary wick tube, such as that shown at 15, while the width of middle portion '14 is substantially equal to that of theaverage wick 16. The bottom of middle portion 14 is suitably sharpened to form the cutting or. scraping edge of the cleaner, while legs 13 are adapted to telescope over the upper end of wick tube 15thus positioning the cleaner. over wick 16 and guiding the cutter in the path of the wick during the cutting operation. Gutters 9 may be made in any suitable manner, but an inexpensive and preferred method of manufacture consists in forming these members first as integral flat metal stampings, having one end shaped to form legs 13 and middle portion 14 of cutter plate 11, cutting one edge of the metal stamping to the shape of holding down clip 12, and then bending said clip and horizontal base plate 10' to a position at right angles to cutter plate 11.

Suitable means are also provided for mov ing cutters 9 radially in groove 8, thereby varying the distance of said cutters from the center of disc 6 and adjusting the cleaning diameter of the device to fit wicks of any size. In the form shown, an adjusting disc 17, substantially equal in size to'central disc 6 of the spider, is rotatably mounted above said central disc on a suitable bushing or spindle 18 which extends centrally. through both discs. Pivotally attached to various points about the periphery of adjusting disc 17 is a plurality of connecting links 19, the

outer ends of which are also pivotally secured" to horizontal base plates 10. of thecutters. 9. Any suitable means may be. provided for manually rotating adjusting disc 17 relative to the spider such as a pair of angles which are riveted to said disc at diametrically opposite points thereof and constitute. convenient means for rotating the'discbetween the thumb and forefinger.

Suitable means are also provided for rotating the cleaner as-a whole, said meanscoms prising, in the form shown, a plurality of horizontal radially disposedarms 21secured to the underside of central disc 6 of spider 5, each of which is provided with a vertical upwardly extending gripping member 22 adapted to be grasped by the person cleaning the wick.

In using the wick cleaner disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, spider 5 is first placed vertically over wick tube 15, and then, by means ofangles 20, adjusting disc 17 is rotated to move cutters 9 radially inwardly or outwardly to conform to the diameter of wick 16 to be cleaned. When the cutters are thus adjusted to the size of the wick, legs-.1301? cutter plates 11 telescope over wick tube 15, and middle portions 14 rest upon the top of wick 16 thus centering the cleaner with respect to the wick in positionfor. scraping or cutting the same. The cleaning operation is then performed by rotating the entire cleaner assembly by means of the upwardly extending gripping members 22. The wick 16' is trimmed and cleaned by the sharpened edge of middle portion 14 of cutter plate 11, legs 13 at thesame time serving to remove the carbon which forms on the vertical sides of wick tube'15.

p A second and more simple embodiment of the inventionis shown in Fig. 4. The cleaner disclosed therein comprises a flat arm 23'on which is slidably mounteda cutter or scraper 24.. The latter'comprises a substantially rectangular base plate 25, one surface of which is adapted to slide on a flat side of arm 23, a downwardly extending cutter plate 26 having legs 27 and a middle portion 28 correspondingto legs 13 and middle portion 14 of cutter 9 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and an upwardly extending portion or gripping member 29. Cutter 24 is slidably secured to arm 23 by any suitable means such as a downwardly turned lip 30 and a pair of upwardly turned lips 31 which engage the opposite side of arm 23 from that on which base plate slides. This type of cutter may also advantageously be manufactured from an integral metal stamping, by cutting the, various portions totheir proper shape when a flat piece, and then bending lips and 31 to the positions shownin Fig. 4.

One end of arm 23 is doubled upon itself to form an eye 32 which acts as the center of rotation or pivot for arm 23 during the cleaning operation. In use, arm 23 is placed over theburner to be cleaned with its fiat side in a vertical plane. and .with eye 32: overthe center of the burner or wick. Cutter 24 is then slid inwardly or outwardly alongv arm' 23 until its distance. from the. center: of eye 32 is equal to theradius of thewick, at which time legs 27 telescope over the upper end. of the wick .tube and middle portion 28 of .the cutter rests uponthe. wick in cleaning position. Holding. eye 32 over the center ofthe wick by any suitable means, either manually or by placing itover. a spindleprovided withsome types of burners, arm 23 is then rotated. by meansof gripping member-29, and the middle portion 28 ofcutter 24scrapes the wick clean, legs27 at the same time removing. carbon from the wick tube.

There is thus provided by the present invention a novel form of wickcleaner having an adjustable cleaning diameter. The cutter or cutters are easily. and quickly adjusted to thediameter of any size'wick, and the cleaning operationisreadily performedin a simple and efiicientmanner. Not only is the. wick scrapedand cleaned, but carbon is also simultaneously removed from the wick tube. The wick cleaner thus provided .is simple in structure. and inexpensive to manufacture, being especially adapted for quantity production from sheet metal stampings.

It willbe'obvious that the inventionis not limited to theform shown in the drawing but is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments. For example,adjusting. disc 17 and connecting links 19 maybe replaced by any suitable. means for varying the position of the cutters, as may other means for r0.- tating the cutters be substituted for the vertical gripping members shown. Various other changes, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, and reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

L A wick cleaner comprising a frame, a plurality of cutters carried by said frame,

means for adjusting the positions of said If cutters independently of and radially with respect to said frame, and means for rotating said frame and cutters simultaneously.

2. A wick cleaner comprising a substan tially circular frame, a plurality of radial grooves formed in said frame, a plurality of cutters slidably mounted in said grooves, means for adjusting said cutters radially with respect to said frame, and means for simultaneously rotating both said frame and said cutters.

3. A wick cleaner comprising a cutter for scraping the wick, means for supporting and rotating said cutter, and means carried by said cutter for guiding the same in the path of said wick during said rotation, said cutter being adjustable relative to said supporting means to wicks of various diameters.

4. A wick cleaner comprising a substantially circular frame, a plurality of radial grooves formed in said frame, a plurality of specification.

' PAUL GENNRIGH.

cutters slidably mounted in said grooves, a

disc rotatably mounted on said frame, links pivotally secured to said disc and to said cutters, and means for rotating said cutters.

5. A wick cleaner comprising asubstantially circular frame, a plurality of cutters carried by said frame, means for moving said cutters radially with respect to said frame to engage wicks of diiferent diameters, and means for rotating said cutters about the center of said frame.

6. A wick cleaner comprising a supporting member, and a radially adjustable cutter carried thereby, said cutter having a wickcleaning edge of a width substantially equal to that of the wick to be cleaned and elements carried thereby and adapted to engage the wick to be cleaned for guiding the movement of the cutter with respect to said wick.

7. A wick cleaner comprising a supporting member, and a radially adjustable cutter carried thereby, said cutter having a wickoleaning edge of a width substantially equal to that of the wick to be cleaned and a pair of downwardly depending legs secured to the extremities of said cutting edge for simultaneously guiding said cutter with respect to the wick and for cleaning carbon from the wick tube.

8. A wick cleaner comprising aframe, a plurality of cutters carried by said frame, means mounted on said frame and connected to said cutters for moving all of said cutters simultaneously toward or away from the center of said frame, and means for rotating said cutters as a unit about the center of said frame as an axis.

9. A wick cleaner comprising a frame, a plurality of cutters carried by said frame, adjusting means mounted on said frame for rotation relative thereto, operative connections between said cutters and said adjusting means whereby relative rotation of the latter with respect to said frame moves all of said 

